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AGRICULTURE

Minister directs Assembly to relocate dumping site at Densu Estuary

The Densu Estuary is an important ecological zone where like many other estuaries, some fishes spawn, develop before migrating back into the sea.

Date Created : 4/17/2019 5:22:04 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

The area is also a major contributor to the economic livelihoods of the people in the area including Tsokomey, Tetegu, and Bortianor known for the harvesting of oyster which dwell in the Densu Delta.

The area is even gaining more popularity following strides made in revamping the oyster stock in the river.

The Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP) supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has in recent years introduced the residents through local community-led, non-governmental organizations to co-management practices to help and ensure sustainable management of the natural resources particularly the oyster stock. This led to the introduction and observation of oyster harvesting closed season, - a period to allow oysters to spawn and grow to appreciable sizes for the market.

The initiative is also geared towards increasing oyster stock in the entire Densu Delta which was known to be fast depleting until these initiatives are turning the fortunes of the stock around.

It is however disheartening to note that, the positioning of a refuse dump along the river at Tsokomey threatened the lives of the fishes as well as the people living around the area. This when not curtailed may erode any inroad made to improve the oyster stock in the Densu Delta.

With the current menace of plastic all over the world, we cannot allow ourselves to continue to destroy such an important natural resource which provide jobs to many of the people to be intentionally polluted.

It was therefore in line when the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Elizabeth Afoley-Quaye at the opening of this year’s oyster harvesting season after a successful five months closed season did not mince words in asking the Ga South Municipal Assembly to cease people from dumping at the site and urged the Assembly to relocate the dump site.

According to her, the dump site was too close to the Densu River that makes it easy for plastics to find its way into the river and the sea. She noted the excessive harvesting of plastics by fishermen was bad enough and while they make efforts to avert the situation, they cannot afford to make it easy for plastics to get into the sea.

Meanwhile, the Minister promised among other things to lend the necessary support to the people to complement their efforts to plant more mangroves, and to honour request by the people to provide them with the necessary cleaning equipment to keep the area clean to boost fish life.